There are two types of damages in each personal injury case: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the reasonable costs incurred as a result of the subject accident. This includes items such as medical costs, lost wages, property damage, and travel expenses related to the accident. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. These two categories encompass the pain, anxiety, embarrassment, and stress associated with the accident and injuries, as well as the activities you are no longer able to do and enjoy as a consequence of your injuries – either short term, or permanently. In rare instances where the defendant acted with intentional malice, you may be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant for their conduct. However, punitive damages carry a higher burden of proof than normal damages and can be incredibly difficult to predict as they are allocated on a discretionary basis.
